Local advocates express concerns after 988 LGBTQ+ youth option eliminated

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — As of July 17, a specialized service within the 988 suicide hotline to help LGBTQ+ callers is gone.

Federal health officials eliminated the federal funding dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth services. Local advocates have concerns about what this will mean for young people.

When you use your phone to call 988, you’ll no longer have the option to press 3. It’s the resource formerly used to connect people needing help with counselors trained to respond to LGBTQ+ issues. Without it, organizations like Mental Health America of Central Carolinas are bracing for increased demand.

“Knowing that it is being dropped from 988 will be a big loss of access for life-saving resources for thousands of youth across the United States,” said Rebekah Collins with Mental Health America of Central Carolinas

What was once available at the touch of three numbers is now something you’ll have to work a little harder to find.

“It’s easy to assume that losing access to such a fast, accessible resource like this will lead to that increased need,” said Collins.

People who work for Mental Health America of Central Carolinas are gearing up to meet that need, now that kids and teens who are part of the LGBTQ+ community no longer have access to specially trained responders through the suicide hotline.

“One thing we really emphasize is having someone to call and having someone to turn to when we are struggling,” said Collins. “That is lifesaving. And when individuals don’t feel like they have that person, they may go on to attempt to end their life.”

The 988 change comes as North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services officials are celebrating three years of the crisis lifeline.

Between August 2022, the first full month of service, and May of this year, North Carolina averaged more than 9,400 calls, texts or chats each month.

From June 2024 to May 2025, volume went up to more than 11,400 per month.

Despite the success, advocates worry the loss of this particular resource will deter people from dialing.

“I think they’re going to be hesitant reaching out because there is a chance that that person may not have that extra understanding that they had before,” said Collins.

Even though the press 3 option is no longer available, advocates encourage people to continue using 988 as a resource if needed.